​Smart devices are becoming more and more prevalent in daily life, from televisions to thermostats to toasters. Devices with digital assistants, like Amazon’s Alexa or iOS’s Siri, are also expanding at a rapid pace. It makes sense that the hotel industry, with their focus on hospitality, would take advantage of this new technology to make their guests’ stays more comfortable.

Hotels introduce A.I Devices

Marriott, Best Western, and Starwood are only some of the brands currently testing digital assistants in hotel rooms. Guests who stay in a room with an artificially intelligent assistant can have the device perform a number of tasks, including tell the time, play music, order room service, and even open or close the curtains.

Marriott is using their Aloft hotel in Boston to test both Alexa and Siri to determine which digital assistant customers prefer. In addition to the features mentioned, guests can control their television, lights, and room temperature with their voice. That will make turning on the air conditioner from bed much easier!

One thing customers should not anticipate is the devices being used as marketing tools. Users have reacted very negatively toward unexpected ads coming from their digital assistants. Therefore at this time hotels are using them as a way to enhance the guest experience rather than increase revenue.